Electric curling iron



H. OSTERMANN `ELECTRIC CURLING IRON Filed OGL. 4, 1922 Dec. 9, 1924.

Patented Dec. 9, 1924.

UNITED STATES IIENRY STERMANN, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS.

ELECTRIC CURLING IRON.

Application filed Gcto'ner 4, 1922.

[o all LU/rom it may conce/m.'

Be it known that I, HENRY OSTERMANN, a citizen of the United States, and resident of Chicago, in the county of Cook and State of Illinois, have invented new and useful Improvement-s in Electric Curling Irons, of which. the following is a. specification.

rllhis invention has relation to a curling iron, and has particular reference to an electrically heated curling iron.

Devices of this character usually comprise a handle from which extends a hollow shank, within which a. heating element is placed. Pivoted relative to the shank is a channelled lever, which lever is springheld against the shank for the purpose of holding the hair tightly wound around the shank. In late years, however', a new method of hair curling has been evolved for producing what may be termed, and by the trade is termed a permanent wave, and for this purpose a device is employed which is not fitted with such spring-held lever.

The object of the present invention is the provision of a simple, convenient and inexpensive device of the character above referred to. A further object is to provide a device equipped with a detachable lever in order that the structure may be equally adapted for ordinary hair curling and for use in making such permanent waves. Another object is to provide a swiveled terminal for the wire connections of the structure capable of preventing twisting and consequent breaking of the connecting wires.` lilith these objects in view my invention consists in the combinations hereinafter fully described and illustrated in the accompanying drawing, of which:

Fig. l is a general' view of the structure of my invention,

Fig. 2 is a cross sectional view through the handle portion of the device and taken substantially on a line A. of Fig. l., looking in the direction of the arrow,

Fig. 3 shows the lever of the structure as it appears when detached, and

Fig. 4f illustrates the handle portion of the structure on a larger scale, and shown partly in section in order to disclose the construction of the wire terminals.

At first glance the outward appearance of the device presents `the usual form of electric curling iron, comprising a handle l, which is shown to support a hollow shank 2, anda spring held lever 3 is found mount Serial No. 592,319.

ed in the customary manner. Upon closer examination, however, attention is quickly drawn to a finger piece l, which is shown mounted on a semicircular clamping piece 5, by means of which the leveril is attached to the main portion of the device. Around the front end of the handle is secured a ferrule 6, and this ferrule is made with diametrally opposite axial grooves (5, 6b, for the accommodation of inwardly bent edges 5a, 5" of the clamping piece 5. The clamping piece is made with an extension terminating in a `formed eye 5C, and the latter lits loosely over a fulcrum pin 7. The linger piece 4 is riveted or otherwise suitably fastened on the back of the clamping piece 5, whence it is bent back to form a spring la lying within the channel of the lever and adapted to maintain the lever normally closed on the shank 2.

Comparing now Fig. 3 with Fig. l it is noticed that, when released, as indicated in Fig. 3, the clamping piece 5 takes an oblique position relative to the lever, and that in Fig. 1 it is drawn up parallel with the lever and handle, the finger piece L being used for this purpose. VWhen the clamping piece is drawn back parallel with the handle it is found that it may be pulled on to the ferrule or pushed off this ferrule, as the case may be, and without effort, but the moment the finger piece et is released, it is found that the clamping piece is urged to return to its oblique position, causing its bent edges 5a, 5b to tilt in the slots 6a, 6b and thereby to wedge in the slots and to clamp the lever against longitudinal displacement by the operators hand.

The aforenamed clamping mechanism is sufiicient to maintain the lever in position, while the apparatus is in use, against all ordinary displacement pressures, but I prefer to introduce a more positive locking mechanism for emergency purposes. 'llo this end it is noticed that the ferrule (i is made with an annular groove 6C, and that the finger piece l is provided with a 'tooth shaped bend 4, adapted to ride in. this annular groove. When the finger piece is drawn back this tooth moves out of engagement with the groove and the clamp can be pushed out of engagement with the ferrule, but the tooth snaps into position the moment the finger piece is released, and locks the lever positively in position.

The handle is bored lengthwise to support the shank 2, and the rear end of this perfor-aA tion is enlargedfto forni a cylindrical chainber 1'. The heating' element of the device comprises a long' slender cylindrical rod S, niade of insulating' material into which the thermal wires are imbedded, and an insulat ed terminal block 9 is rigidly atlixed to the end oli' the rod. The latten is of lsuch snia'll dialnet-er that it is free to rotate within the hollow sha-nk 2, and the terniinal `block is likewise of a size to turn i'reelywithin the chamber li'. The end of this chamber is closed by a plug' l0, and this plug is perforated to receive wires 'll and 1Q', which wires extend to theterinin al block and carry the current from sonic source ott electric energy (not shown). vllhe holethrongh the plug 10 is large enough to perinit the wires tol turn lreelv Freni the foregoing' -it is seen, then, that thelheating element, the-terminal block` and the wire connections all are held rotatablein thehandle and shank. This is an important feature, as it serves to prevent the occurrence o'l' kinks,4 twists and breaks in the wirev connections, while thedevice is; being' turned and twisted y.in the course of the `culiilingg; operation. The pull of the connecting' wires often is relatively great, and for this reasonit is well to place an insulating wash-er 13 ytightlyon the'wires intermediate the plug' l() and `the I'terinina'l blockt), as the constantpulling` and twisting' otherwise may cause' the wires to rub hard enough against the inner edge ot' the plug perforation to wear through they insulation and toA causeafshort circuit `ol the wires. But as the washer fits tightly on theY wires it is found th-at it rides against and turns oirthe inner ,face oi" the plug', therebytal;- ing all wear and protecting' the wires.

I claim:

l. In an electric` iron, a hollow' handle carrying a heating' element, a cylindrical shank 0n saidhandle and covering saidheatingy element, a ferruler maintaining the shan l; on' the handle and made with axial Vgrooves diametrally opposed, a `channeled lever, a semi-cylindrical sleevey having` bent edges enraging said grooves, and a .resilient member Combining the semi-cylindrical sleeve and the lever, said resilient ineniber maintaining the lever 'yieldingly closed on. the shank.

2. .ln an electric iron, a hollow handle, a hollow 4shank on the handle, a heating,r element within the handle and shank, a ferrule n'iaintainingr the shank on the handle and provided with axial Igrooves dianictrally 0pposed, said handle having' behind said ferrule a peripheral groove, a send-cylindrical shoe shaped to engage said axial grooves, al channeled lever, and a resilient member on said shoe, saidnicmber shapedwith an eye in whichsaid lever ispivotally mounted,v one end of said .member .vieldingly pressing?y the lever against the said shank, theiothcr end of the ineniher engaging' said peripheral groove and terniinatine` in aliugerpiece 'for releasing the shoe to detach lthe lever.

An electric iron comprising, a handle provided with axial `grooves, a=hollovv slfiank' pifojectrngr lf'roni said handle, aheatingelenient in said' shank, a' detachable lever, and a resilientfineniber 'pi voted on said lever and capable o'l engaging' the grooves oil' said handleto lock the lever on the handle.

4. ln an electric iron, a handle, a cylindrical shank on the handle, said handle adjaeentfto said shank made with axial grooves, a detachable channeled lever, a resilient member pivoted on the lever and shaped toengage the `grooves oit saidhandle `to hold theflever in place, said ineinoluerurging the channeled portion of the lever against said shank.

' An electric iron comprising, acylindrical shank and an extending handle, a terru-le ou sanlhantlle provided with axial grooves, a detachable channel lever, and a spring ineinbernivoted in the channel of the lever, said ineniber shaped to engage said grooves and made-with a lingerpiece ttor releasing; the lever from the shank, the ineinber niade with an arm urging theA lever against the shank.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto allixed in v signature.

HENRY OSTER'MANN. 

